Spin-Off – September 2019

Fall 2019 • Spin Off 89

PROJECT

Notes

This shawl is worked sideways in garter stitch. The

large solid triangle is worked first. An ombré border is

knitted onto the straight edge, and another is worked

on the live stitches at the end of the triangle. Solid

edgings are added last.

This pattern is written with the original version as

the first “size” and the handspun version as the second

“size” (in parentheses). The original version uses only

one needle size, so ignore references to larger and

smaller needles if making the original version.

Optional slipped-stitch edge: Sample shown

includes a slipped-stitch edge on the longest side of the

triangle. Sections 1 and 3: Slip the first stitch of every

wrong-side row as if to purl with yarn in front and

continue in pattern as stated. Sections 4 and 5: Slip the

first stitch of every right-side row as if to purl with yarn

in front and continue in pattern as stated.

Shawl

Section 1

With MC and larger needle (see Notes), CO 3 sts.

Row 1 (RS) Knit.

Rows 2 and 4 Knit.

Rows 3 and 5 Knit to last 2 sts, M1L, k2—1 st inc’d.

Row 6 Knit.

Rep last 6 rows 45 (53) more times—95 (111) sts.

Break MC.

Section 2

With MC, 2nd (smaller) cir needle, and RS facing,

pick up and knit 139 (163) sts along straight (not

I’m a fiber-centric spinner. My greatest joy in creating

textiles, whether knitted, woven, or embroidered, is in

learning about fibers and what they do best. I’m always

on the lookout for projects that allow me to combine

fibers and different yarn structures in an intentional way.

Megi Burcl’s Beacon Shawl is made in separate

sections rather than using an intarsia technique. This

makes it easy to change to a different needle size, as I

did, to accommodate a different yarn structure, fiber

character, and grist. The bouncy combed-but-still-

crimpy Merino could then be a finer, more ephemeral

yarn for drape, and the gradient border could be a

denser, less-elastic yak/silk blend to add weight and

luster to the finished edge. I can’t wait to remake this

shawl again with another fiber combo!

The original pattern instructions are included here

along with a modified version that accomodates the

differences in MC and CC yarns.

Materials

Fiber Handspun version: Abundant Earth Fiber

Hand-Dyed U.S. Merino, 3½ oz (100 g) in Moss (MC).

Greenwood Fiberworks 50% yak/50% silk combed top,

1 oz each of five colors in Arizona (purple [CC1], blue

[CC2], green [CC3], olive [CC4], and brown [CC5]).

Yarn Handspun version: MC: 2-ply; 550 yd; 3,150 ypp;

21 wpi; laceweight. CC1–CC5: 3-ply; 25 yd each

color; 2,000 ypp; 20 wpi; fingering weight.

Needles Original version: U.S. size 5 (3.75 mm): two

24" circular (cir). Handspun version: U.S. size 2½

(3 mm): 24" cir. U.S. size 2 (2.75 mm): 24" cir. Adjust

needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Tapestry needle.

Gauge 24 (23) sts and 48 (42) rows = 4"

in garter st with MC on larger needle.

Finished Size 46 (52½ )" wide and 15

(19)" tall.

Visit http://www.interweave.com/interweave

-knitting-glossary for terms you don’t

know.

Beacon Shawl

Original pattern by Megi Burcl; adapted for handspinning by Kate Larson

section 1

sec

tio

n^3

section 4

direction of knitting

sect

ion

sec^2

tion

(^5)